NEWS: How much has the war in Afghanistan really cost?Dear chapter activists,
The Canadian Press reported this morning that, "Pressure is mounting
on Stephen Harper to allow the release of a report on the true cost
of the Afghan war that could dash his hopes for a majority
government...If Harper doesn't give the all clear, voters won't know
the full cost of the multibillion-dollar mission until after the Oct.
14 election."
This afternoon, they reported that, "Stephen Harper has given his
blessing to the release of a report on the cost of the Afghan war --
a document that could sway Conservative fortunes in the vital
electoral battleground of Quebec, where the mission is highly
unpopular...All opposition parties gave their blessing Tuesday, and
the prime minister agreed Wednesday."
HAS THE WAR COST CANADA $7.5 BILLION?
The Canadian Press reported on March 11 that, "The Conservative
government scrambled Tuesday to explain a report that the Afghanistan
mission will run $1 billion over budget this fiscal year... Documents
obtained under the Access to Information Act indicate the mission has
cost Canadian taxpayers at least $7.5 billion since 2001 - double
what was budgeted. The documents say the mission cost $538 million
more than expected over the first six months of the current fiscal
year, and is projected to overshoot its budget by another $539
million by March 31."
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE HAS CLAIMED IT HAS COST $5 BILLION,
JOHN MANLEY REPORT SAYS $6.1 BILLION,
THE FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER HAS SAID $6.3 BILLION
The March 11 Canadian Press article continues, "The Defence
Department says the projected budget for the Afghanistan mission
through 2009 was $4.5 billion, but was adjusted to $5 billion because
of the additional equipment purchased to protect soldiers. It says
the increase does not count as a cost overrun. The $5 billion figure,
however, is at odds with the $6.3 billion cited by former defence
minister Gordon O'Connor in a post-budget hearing last spring before
the House of Commons." It also appears to be at odds with John
Manley's 'Independent Panel on Canada's Future Role in Afghanistan'
which on January 22 stated that, "the financial cost of Canada's
military engagement (totals) $6.1 billion from fiscal years 2000-01
to 2006-07..."
THE CONSERVATIVES NOW SAY UNDER $8 BILLION
This afternoon's Canadian Press report says, "The minority
Conservative government has estimated the cost of the six-year
mission at under $8 billion. If the new figures are much higher, it
could be bad news for Harper."
61 PERCENT OF CANADIANS SAY THE COST AND THE LIVES LOST IS TOO HIGH
Notably, on September 4, CTV.ca reported that, "A new poll suggests a
majority of Canadians believe the country is paying too high a price
in terms of blood and treasure for its involvement in Afghanistan.
(The Canadian Press-Harris Decima) survey found that 61 per cent of
respondents believed the cost of the country's mission in terms of
lives and expense has been unacceptable, while only one in three said
it was acceptable."
The Canadian Press report 'Harper hounded to release Afghan war cost
report' can be read at,
http://canadianpress.google.com/article ... lk3m3QwUWA http://canadianpress.google.com/article ... lk3m3QwUWA The Canadian Press article 'Harper agrees to release of Afghan war
cost report' is at
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/s ... ection2008 The Canadian Press article 'Tories don't deny report of $1-billion
Afghan budget blowout' can be read at,
http://www.canadaeast.com/front/article/237235>http://www.canadaeast.com/front/article/237235
The CTV report 'Afghan mission's cost too high, poll finds' is at,
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/s ... b=PoliticsBrent
Brent Patterson
Director of Campaigns and Communications
The Council of Canadians
700-170 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5V5
1-800-387-7177 ext. 291
<mailto:bpatterson@canadians.org>bpatterson@canadians.org
www.canadians.org
